May 2011

The Alfred State College baseball team ran their winning streak to three and climbed back to .500 with a doubleheader sweep of Broome CC. ASC won the opener 4-3 in walk-off fashion and won the nightcap 10-3.

In the opener, Broome rallied from a 3-2 deficit with an unearned run in the top of the 7th but the Pioneers answered right back in the bottom half and won the game when JP Frey (Erie, PA/McDowell) slide in before the tag on a Tyler Mann (Holland Patent) ground ball to short.

Kevin Smith (Cicero North Syracuse) was 2 for 3 with a RBI, Dennis Dueno (Brooklyn/Bishop Ford) was 2 for 3, and Garrett Hoag (Dansville) drove in two with a triple in the 3rd. Ruben Mizrahi (Weston, FL/David Pasnack) allowed one earned run in seven innings of work to earn the win. He allowed six hits and three walks while striking out eight.

The Pioneers scored five in the 1st to take full control of the nightcap. Smith led the way with a 3 for 4, 4 RBI day while Mann was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. Dan Sill (Lansing) drove in two and finished 2 for 3. Mitch Kippola (Ithaca) allowed one earned run in four innings of work to earn the victory. John Whitehead (Amherst) tossed two perfect innings of relief and Matt Gier (North Collins) got the final three outs.

With the sweep the Pioneers are 14-14 overall on the season and 10-11 in Region III Division III play.

The blue & gold hit the road on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with Tompkins Cortland CC.

State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher and NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo have joined forces to outline a vision for reopening New York State to business—with SUNY as the catalyst for progress.

“I am pleased to see a collaboration between SUNY and state government,” said Dr. John M. Anderson, Alfred State College president. “The new NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program will help lead economic revitalization in New York State.”

The NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program’s mission is to make SUNY a leading catalyst for job growth throughout the state, strengthen the academic programs of the University Centers, and demonstrate that New York is open for business, according to a jointly released statement.

The NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program will initially consist of $35 million in capital funding per school ($20 million administered by Empire State Development Corporation and $15 million from SUNY's construction fund) for the four SUNY University Centers. Phase one of the program is worth up to $140 million dollars to the SUNY University Centers in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. The first round of approvals will be made by the end of this year.

The funding will be integrated with the Governor's Regional Economic Development Councils and administered by ESDC. The approach will leverage private sector and other source funding to further the goals of job creation and economic development.

“This is perfectly aligned with SUNY’s strategic plan, The Power of SUNY, which has as its pivotal goal the economic revitalization of our state and improving the quality of life of our citizens,” added Anderson.

According to SUNY officials, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook will now have the ability to put forth comprehensive proposals that both advance SUNY’s academic mission and spur regional development – economic activity that all 64 campuses can benefit from. Enabling SUNY’s university centers to open the doors to new opportunity will allow SUNY to bring that opportunity to scale for the entire system.

Local businesses, local governments and other parties will be able to make the most of what SUNY has to offer: world-class students, top-notch educators and researchers, and cutting-edge innovation.

“We are proud to be part of this collaboration,” Anderson continued. “It will allow SUNY’s university centers to become leading institutions of higher education and showcase SUNY’s diverse ability to bring jobs to New York—and it augurs well for all SUNY campuses.”

Alfred State College track & field athlete Tara Murphy (Rochester/Wilson) has been named the Region III co-female athlete of the week. Murphy is the third Pioneer to gain the honor this spring.

Murphy had a huge weekend as she helped the Lady Pioneers win the Region III Championships. Murphy was named the most outstanding track athlete of the meet after winning the 400 m (58.64) and the 800 m (2:30.58). She was also part of the winning 4 x 400 relay team that crossed the line in 4:18.54. She also scored points in the 200 m (26.58 - 2nd place).

Murphy will enter the NJCAA Division III National Championships this weekend at Alfred State ranked #2 in the 800 m and #3 in the 400 m.

Alfred State College sophomores Alex Farrell (N. Tonawanda) and Taylor Nelson (Somers) have been named SUNY Chancellor's Scholar Athlete award winners. Farrell is the NJCAA cross country representative while Nelson represents wrestling.

The SUNY Chancellor's Scholar Athlete award recognizes students that display excellence academically and athletically. 74 SUNY athletes from Division I, Division III, and NJCAA were honored. The average GPA of the reciepients was a 3.64.

Farrell has been a two-year member of the cross country and track & field teams. He earned honorable mention All-American honors in cross country and was a member of two teams that finished as NJCAA National runner-ups. On the track & field team, Farrell will compete at the NJCAA National Championshps in a trio of events (800, 1500, 4 x 800). Farrell has a 3.84 GPA in architectural technology.

Nelson wrestled the past two seasons for Alfred State. During his two years, he qualified for the NJCAA National Championships twice and earned a 22-22 career record. He was the Region III Champion in 2010 and the Region III runner-up in 2011. He holds a 3.06 GPA in masonry.

Farrell and Nelson will receive a congratulatory letter and a plaque from Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.

322 athletes representing 24 colleges are on their way to Alfred State for the 2011 NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Pioneers enter the national championships ranked #4 in the NJCAA poll and will look to make their mark as they entertain some of the top talent in two-year athletics.

Four Pioneers will head into the nationals with the best time recorded this season in their competition. Brett Harrington (Rochester/Edison) is ranked 1st in the 110 m hurdles (14.73), Marcquis Johnson-Broughton (Rochester/Edison) is 1st in the 400 m hurdles (55.81), David Miller (Elmira Southside) is 1st in the pole vault (4.60 m), and Tara Murphy (Rochester/Wilson) is top in the 800 m (2:18.37). The women's 4 x 400 relay team also is ranked #1 heading into the championships.

Murphy is also ranked #2 in the 400 m (58.94), Rawle Crawford (Mt. Vernon) is #2 in the 200 (22.12), Briana Dorsey (Rochester/School of the Arts) is #2 in the 100 m (12.60), Jordan Traina (Gates Chili) is #2 in the pole vault (4.20 m), and Megan Votava (Alfred Almond) is #2 in the 100 m hurdles (16.74).

The Lady Pioneers are coming off winning the Region III Championship for the first time since 2007 last weekend. The men's team finished 3rd.

Alfred State last hosted the outdoor track & field championships in 2009 and will host the national championships again in 2012.

Five baccalaureate-level mechanical engineering seniors at Alfred State College, under the guidance of their project advisers, Ray Gleason, instructional support technician, competed in the 11th annual BUV (basic utility vehicle) competition recently in Indianapolis. A BUV is, according to the Institute for Affordable Transportation (IAT) which sponsors the competition, a vehicle to help meet peoples’ everyday needs in developing countries. Besides rural transportation, BUVs also represent a mobile power source for further development. Thanks to a thrown bolt on the shive, the part of the CVT that controls the drive belt, during the Enduro Run the last event, the team was forced to make repairs on the course. Without the correct length bolt to replace it, team member Kevin Sullivan was able to jury rig one with electrical tape that allowed the vehicle to finish the event. However, despite these difficulties, JAARS (formerly the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), a group that provides technical support such as aviation, information technology, and media for missionary programs, awarded Alfred State the “Customer’s Choice Award” for the best-designed vehicle. It was presented by Mike Smith, the organization’s automotive supervisor/trainer.

Alfred State College will name its auditorium for longtime employee Anthony Cappadonia following the successful completion of a campaign to raise funds for renovations of the facility, President Dr. John M. Anderson announced recently.

President Anderson made the announcement at the Alfred State College Alumni Choir Concert, an event which has been led by Cappadonia for 60 years.

“Over the next couple of years, the College will invest over a quarter of a million dollars to upgrade the auditorium. We approached the alumni choir leadership about whether the group would like to support the renovation of the space that they had performed in so many times, and they were very enthusiastic. We will spend the next year raising an additional $100,000 from supporters to further the scope of the renovations of this auditorium, and second, once we have achieved that $100,000 goal, to commemorate that successful campaign we will name this facility after the person who, more than any other, poured his heart and soul into the wonderful performances that have graced this hall over the years: Anthony Cappadonia,” said Anderson.

Professor Emeritus Anthony Cappadonia served as music professor at Alfred State College from 1951 until his retirement in 2007, after 56 years of directing both instrumental and choral groups.

Cappadonia earned his bachelor and master degrees in instrumental and vocal music from Ithaca College and continued graduate work at Syracuse and Alfred universities. He has authored many articles in the Choral Journal, a national publication. He is also an accomplished composer, most recently honored by performance of his Alleluia, Prayer, and Amen at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Cappadonia is a member of the American Choral Directors' Association and has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for many county and area all-state choirs throughout New York and Pennsylvania. He was presented the ASC College Council Outstanding Service Award in May2000.

The response to the project has been strong – over $30,000 has been pledged in just seven weeks. The renovation funds, both from the College's budget and from the money raised through the campaign, will be used to improve the auditorium's lighting, sound system, acoustics, appearance, and other mechanicals. The College hopes to dedicate the facility at next year's Alumni Choir Concert. Those interested in supporting the project may go to www.alfredstate.edu/give.